Using a duplicated stone model of the diagnostic wax-up, draw a line through the incisal edge and occlusal surfaces of the teeth and another line in the center of each tooth to be replaced, intersecting the incisal or occlusal line

Remove the lingual half of the teeth to be replaced

Mold acrylic onto the lingual aspect of the model up to the level of the central fossa or incisal edge of the teeth to be restored

Cut a 2.5mm wide groove in the acrylic corresponding to the middle of each intended tooth to be replaced

The trajectory of the pilot bur will be the trajectory of the implant and the trajectory of a straight abutment

The final implant osteotomy, to the extent possible, should be centered in the middle of the intended prosthetic tooth

An appropriate mesio-distal positioning of a pilot osteotomy is more critical than a slightly off-axis trajectory

Both the vacuum-formed and palatal templates are placed in cold sterilization prior to their being used to facilitate achieving an appropriate trajectory for the pilot bur